WHICH EXTERNAL WATERPROOFING MEMBRANE SHOULD YOU USE?

Now, it might seem like our external membrane range in the Aqua seal portfolio is on the increase, and it is, and all for good reason.

Firstly, to waterproof externally is often referred to as an envelope treatment. If you think about external waterproofing, it covers the building or the home, walls, roofs, parapets, etc. And so, that term envelope treatment is often one that's talked with consultants and engineers from the coating or the covering from the outside, and it is a critical one to prevent moisture from entering the built environment. It's not just external paint coating, you are waterproofing that external surface to ensure that moisture and vapours do not get into the building, and it's more testing than any other waterproofing you got to do internally because the fact is you're exposed to the weather. So, you’ve got a variation of conditions and temperatures you're going to be facing.

So, in the Aqua seal range, we've used grip set RD range that's been with us for a long, long time. The secret is that after the grip set 51, grip set RD was the next product we brought to market as a liquid membrane back a long, long time ago in the 90s. Perfect for exterior substrate. It's a little bit thicker consistency, which has no slumping but easily applied, and it's a real all-purpose type of membrane for different applications. It can left be left exposed or it can be painted over.

Aqua seal also used grip set P39 a few years ago and that is our polyurethane technology. It's a hybrid polyurethane. It's best suited for applications that are flat and horizontal. It can be on verticals as well, but best for flat and horizontal surfaces. It's light grey in color, easily applied by roller or a spray unit. If you want to use it for a spray, get onto 0435463085 number because we'll give you the specification on how to spray it. But with the P39 being a polyurethane system, it has got greater durability to longer-term UV and anywhere you might get specific spillages of different waters that might have treatments to them. So, there could be varying pH levels, so take that into account.

The other product Aqua seal got in the external waterproofing is LS roof coat. This is a membrane that we use in conjunction with other membrane systems. A lot of the time it's used on top of GC products, or it can be used on top of our liquids, but it's got a non-slip factor. It doesn't have high elongation. It is waterproof but we always use it as more of a topcoat on top of those membranes for the fact that it gives you non-slip, good UV protection, and good durability.

The next one, the final one that Aqua Seal used in recent times has been our Xpress Multi Pro. It's the latest addition to the range. It is all about speed. The Xpress will get a fast applied membrane finish, particularly when you're facing things like rains, humidity, cold temperatures. The beauty of the Xpress Multi Pro and P39, besides being products that can be left exposed to the elements, to UV, they are also AS4858 approved for tiling over. So, you can use them when you need to finish a job outside and still tile on top. Otherwise, you can leave them exposed, whereas grip set RD and LS roof coat are designed just to be left exposed to UV, not for tiling over. But they are there in the range for you.

So, if you've got any inquiries about Vic Aqua seal external waterproofing and applications involving any of these membranes, for any envelope treatment application, whether it be for parapets, roofs, box gutters, whether it be a pitched roof, flat roof, or a balcony deck or even a cooling tower that can be left exposed outside, contact us at info@vicaquaseal.com.au , We're here to help you. It is a very, very specific and challenging application when you're doing external works. Sometimes it needs to be a combination of different membranes